Ahearn, Margaret Mary

Rhinebeck, NY  - Margaret Mary Ahern, 87, passed away Sunday, November 9, 2008, at the Northern Dutchess Hospital.

Mrs. Ahern graduated from St. Vincent’s Hospital School of Nursing in  1942 and received a B.S. in Nursing Education from St. John’s University in 1950.  She then received a Masters in Administration from Teacher’s College, Columbia University, in 1957.

Miss Ahern served as a Lieutenant in the U.S. Navy, Nurse Corp., from 1943-1946.  Following her discharge she worked in the Medical Department of General Food Corp. from 1946 to 1950 and then with the Visiting Nurse Service of New York until 1961.

From 1961 to 1963, Miss Ahern served the Peace Corps Institute of Rural Education in Chile.   Upon her return she became a Nursing Consultant with the Illinois Department of Heath, Bureau of Public Health.  She served the United State Public Health Service from 1964 to 1971; and was assigned to the Boston Region from 1967 to  1971.  She completed her career with the Visiting Nurse Association of Chicago as Executive Director until her retirement in 1984.

In 1984 she moved to Rhinebeck and was an active member of the Good Shepherd Church and the Women’s Society.  She also was active with the Rhinebeck Garden Club, the Rhinebeck Historical Society, Friends of the Starr Library, and as a volunteer at Wilderstein and the Northern Dutchess Hospital.

Born May 22, 1921 in New York, she was the daughter of John F. and Lillian (Nolan) Ahern. 

Mrs. Ahern was predeceased by two sisters Miriam A. Sullivan; and Sr. Regina Ahern, former Superior General of the Sisters of St. Ursula. 

Miss Ahern is survived by a niece Mariel (Sullivan) O’Brien, and her husband Michael;  three great nieces and nephews, Madeline, Jack and Stephanie, and many cousins.  She is also survived by the children of Mary O’Neil Lourdes, Lisa, Michael, Patrick, Martin, Liam,  Benedict and Meg and their families; as well as Michael, Patrick, Timothy, Elizabeth, Maureen and Elizabeth, the children of the Betty O’Neill.  She was also sustained by her lifelong friendship with the Sisters of St. Ursula in Rhinebeck.

A Memorial Mass will be celebrated Saturday, November 15, 2008, 11 AM, at Linwood Spiritual Center, 139 South Mill Rd., Rhinebeck; a reception will follow.  Interment will be private at Calvary Cemetery.

Memorial donations may be made to the Linwood Spiritual Center, Mill Rd., Rhinebeck, NY  12572.